In 2025, many restaurant owners face an unexpected challenge: sharp rise in egg prices. The combination of inflation and the troubles of bird flu raises egg prices to near-record levels, creating temporary but frustrating challenges in kitchens across the United States.
“We have heard from restaurant owners that a $35 egg has risen to $175… A sudden surge in input costs could seriously challenge the industry,” said Josh Gold, executive vice president of sales .
Eggs play an important role in the daily operations of many restaurants and are a staple ingredient in countless recipes. The sharp rise has brought unnegotiable challenges to the catering industry, affecting menu pricing, profit margins, and the overall viability of the company.
Read on as you explore the factors of rising egg costs, the factors that affect your restaurant, and practical strategies to navigate these dynamic periods.
Why are eggs so expensive?
The surge in egg prices can be attributed to a combination of factors that blended into creating a perfect storm for the food industry. Two main drivers: inflation and widespread avian influenza cases.
Inflation has driven food prices steadily over the past few years. Egg prices have been around 2014 in the past decade, compared to other staple breakfast parts such as bacon.
source: Fred St. Louis
Egg prices soared from 2015 to 2022. They fell again soon after, and only rose significantly again in 2024.
The outbreak of avian influenza has exacerbated this trend. Poultry farms have had to significantly reduce their supply to curb the epidemic, thus causing a supply shock in the egg market. Prices are rising rapidly and significantly, and restaurants feel stressed.
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How egg prices affect restaurants
Eggs are used in a variety of dishes and can increase rapidly even if the cost increases.
Restaurants have to make the difficult decision whether to remove items related to eggs from the menu and risk losing customer satisfaction or absorbing costs internally and removing them with reduced revenue. Select a side per case, such as the Waffle House, which adds a temporary .50 cent surcharge to items related to eggs.
This situation is a course for flexibility for all business owners, no matter what direction the restaurant takes. Of course, this is a temporary challenge, but mitigating market disruptions and moving forward is part of running a successful business. Guaranteed challenge; it is those who overcome them.
How restaurants deal with the surge in eggs
Given the challenges posed by rising egg prices, restaurant owners need to adopt positive strategies to effectively manage costs. Here are some suggestions:
- Menu adjustments: Evaluate your menu to determine your chances of adjusting recipes or substituting ingredients without compromising quality.
- Partial control: Consider refined portion sizes to better manage ingredient usage while still providing a satisfying customer experience.
- Looking for savings in other areas: Find areas in actions that can reduce waste or increase efficiency, help offset the increased costs elsewhere.
- Capital Resources: Having a line of credit or other line of credit allows restaurants to absorb price surges without affecting daily operations.
Restaurant owner, we feel for you. If you are considering using commercial capital to mitigate kitchen disruptions, our consulting team will help here.
When will the price of eggs fall?
U.S. Department of Agriculture industry data may begin to stabilize or even decline before the third quarter of 2025. Includes bird flu outbreaks. If progress is not fast, egg prices will keep rising.
How state commercial capital helps
At National Business Capital, you will work with a business consultant to find the most meaningful capital that meets your unique needs. From our in-house capital solutions to our strategic lending partners’ solutions, every restaurant can find capital that will allow them to mitigate pricing surf disruptions and focus on their growth strategies.
Our support includes:
- Fast and flexible funding: Access you need fast capital so you can address rising component costs without interrupting operations.
- Customized financial solutions: Your consultant works closely with you to understand business challenges and design funding options that align with your specific needs and long-term goals.
- Continuous dedicated support: From initial consultation to funding and beyond, your consultant is committed to ensuring you have the financial support you need to thrive.
Fill in our digital application to get started with a business financing consultant.
